_Early Stages._--An epitome of all that is known is to be found in "The Butterflies of New England." The caterpillar feeds on young plums just after the leaves of the blossom have dropped away.
The species is rather rare, but has been found from the Atlantic to the Pacific in the latitude of New England.
(31) =Thecla henrici=, Grote and Robinson, Plate XXX, Fig. 21, ♀ (Henry's Hair-streak).
_Butterfly._--Much like the preceding species on the upper side, but with the outer half of the wings broadly reddish-brown. The secondaries on the under side are broadly blackish-brown on the basal half, with the outer margin paler. The division between the dark and light shades is irregular and very sharply defined, often indicated by a more or less perfect irregularly curved median white line. Expanse, 1.00-1.10 inch.
_Early Stages._--These have been described by Edwards in the "American Naturalist," vol. xvi, p. 123. The habits of the larva are identical with those of the preceding species.
It occurs from Maine to West Virginia, but is rare.
(32) =Thecla eryphon=, Boisduval, Plate XXX, Fig. 17, ♀, _under side_ (Eryphon).
_Butterfly._--Closely resembling the following species both on the upper and under side of the wings, but easily distinguished by the fact that, on the under side of the fore wings, the inner of the two dark bands on the outer third of the wing is not sharply angulated below the third median nervule, as in _T. niphon_, but is more even, and in general parallel with the submarginal line. Expanse, 1.15 inch.
_Early Stages._--These have not been described.
_Eryphon_ replaces the Eastern _T. niphon_ on the Pacific coast.
(33) =Thecla niphon=, Hübner, Plate XXX, Fig. 11, ♀; Fig. 22, ♀, _under side_; Plate V, Figs. 38, 40, _chrysalis_ (The Banded Elfin).
_Butterfly._--Reddish-brown on the upper side. The under side is accurately depicted in the plate. Expanse, 1.10 inch.
_Early Stages._--These have been elaborately described by Scudder in his great work. The caterpillars feed upon pine.
The Banded Elfin is found from Nova Scotia to Colorado, in the Northern States, where its food-plant occurs, but is never abundant.
[Illustration FIG. 132.--Neuration of _Thecla niphon_, enlarged. Typical of subgenus _Incisalia_, Minot.]